Toxic.

The article stemmed from a friend of the author’s who’d said he wanted to settle down in fear of becoming a “Toxic Bachelor,” explained as a moment in time when it’s “no longer cute to be single” and red flags arise.

This friend was 33, and said the toxic age was 35, and while I’m a handful of years away from being even 33, I am aware of this “toxic” idea, that one day, my singleness won’t be so accepted. Truthfully, I’m beginning to think that day is closer than my 33rd birthday.

The men interviewed in the article had several different views on the idea, some fully buying in and others weren’t sold on it. However, I know it’s no surprise when I say that being single out of your twenties is very different for men than it is for women. After all, we are plagued with being pegged as “crazy” or “too picky” because, if you’re single, then there MUST be something wrong with you, right?

And as the years pass, single women slowly fall out of the “fun” stage and into the Cat Lady category, or worse, an Old Maid, or a spinster.

Although those stereotypes suck, what’s a girl to do? I refuse to settle down just to avoid being pegged. When I get married, or hell, when I decide to date someone, it’s going to be because of our connection, our feelings for each other, not to avoid being the “toxic” conversation at a married-person’s cocktail hour.

The Squeeze

The Bitter Lemon is home to lifestyle writer, editor, and author, Holly A. Phillips. She's an obsessive dreamer, TV-addict, and a relentless blogger, who's recently taken up casual calligraphy. She currently lives in Austin, Texas with her cat, Blanche Devereaux.